Snooker
British Open: Ronnie O’Sullivan vs Sanderson Lam Odds, Tips and Prediction
Date: Monday, 22nd September 2025 Start Time: 19:00 pm UK time Venue: The Centaur,Cheltenham,Gloucestershire, England Last meeting 2019 Welsh Open, Last 128, Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 Sanderson Lam Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and Sanderson Lam will go head-to-head in the opening round of the British Open on Monday, 22nd September. This best-of-seven frame encounter puts all eyes on O’Sullivan and whether he can keep his current form after reaching the final of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and becoming the second player ever to pot two maximum breaks in the same match. He goes up against Lam for the first time since 2019, so which player will come out on top in this extremely short format?
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Ronnie O'Sullivan //Getty Images
Read on for this detailed and accurate preview brought to you by SportsBoom, the best website out there covering all the action for this particular tournament and snooker in general. This ranking event takes place after the English Open and before the start of events in China and Northern Ireland. It is a tournament that every player wishes to add to their snooker trophy cabinet. Read on as we cover head-to-head battles, both players’ recent form, our value bets, and our conclusion on which player will win this particular match.
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Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability
Ronnie O’Sullivan: 1/10 (1.10) – 90.9%
Ronnie O’Sullivan: 1/10 (1.10) – 90.9%
Forecast odds – Betting available on Planetsport Bet closer to event
Head-to-Head:
In the recent head-to-head, Ronnie O’Sullivan and Sanderson Lam have only played one competitive game. We all know about O’Sullivan’s longevity, but Lam has featured on the tour for only eight years. The only fixture that has occurred arrived in the Last 128 of the 2019 Welsh Open, a match that saw O’Sullivan win 4-2.
The nature of the format in this match will be applicable in the upcoming fixture in Cheltenham. Lam will have a tough test on his hands, and it’s vital he gets off to an extremely good start to try and defeat an inform O’Sullivan.
Tournament | Stage | Score line |
2019 Welsh Open | Last 128 | Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-2 Sanderson Lam |
Player Career Timeline
Sanderson Lam
World Snooker Tour Ranking: 57
British Open best result: Second Round (2023)
Sanderson Lam has only played in the British Open on two separate occasions, both in 2021 and 2023. He bowed out in the first round in 2021 but won a match to reach round two in his most recent appearance. Realistically, these performances don’t inspire confidence in anyone who believes he could prevail in this encounter.
But Lam sits 61st in the world as of the start of September in 2025, but his highest ranking was previously 57th. This appearance at the British Open this time around should spark confidence in his game as he has till the end of this season to try and save his tour card. There is no bigger motivation than taking on the most successful snooker player of all time. Lam’s form recently shows improvement, but there’s a long way to go to prove himself as one of the top players.
Last 5 TV Tournament Runs:
2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – 4th Round
2025 Championship League – Round Robin
2025 Welsh Open – 3rd Round
2024 Snooker Shoot Out – 1st Round
2024 International Championship – 1st Round
Ronnie O’Sullivan
World Snooker Tour Ranking: 57
British Open best result: Winner (1994)
Considering he’s the most successful snooker player ever seen, it might be a surprise to many that Ronnie O’Sullivan has only won the British Open once. His success arrived in 1994, but he made final appearances in 1995 and 2004. Though his appearance means it’s the first time he plays in this very tournament since 2005.
O’Sullivan struggled for most of last season with battles off the green baize, but when he’s playing well and enjoying his snooker, the world loves watching him play. He reached the final of the recent Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, and as shared before, he posted two maximum breaks in the same game. Incredibly, though, he reached the semi-final of the 2025 World Championship despite not playing in any event for over four months. The lessons learned are never to underestimate him and his once-in-a-lifetime ability.
Last 5 TV Tournament Runs:
2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – Runners-Up
2025 Shanghai Masters – Quarter-Final
2025 World Championship – Semi-Final
2024 Riyadh Season Snooker Championship – Semi-Final
2024 UK Championship – 1st Round
Value Bets
Total Frames – Under 5.5 Frames
All first-round matches are a first to four frame encounters. The short format is a tough test for anyone, even those at the top of the rankings, due to pressure to get over the line. Given the lack of matches between the two players in recent times, we still expect one-sided dominance.
Total Frames Even/Odd – Odd
Based on our value bet that sees us predict this game to be completed in under 5.5 frames, we expect this game’s total frame count to end as an odd number.
Either Player to Win Successive Frames – Ronnie O’Sullivan
Ronnie O’Sullivan is in impressive form again, and this means we expect him to get a grip on the game early on. This shorter format will mean there’s no room for error on either side.
Prediction: Ronnie O’Sullivan to win 4-1
In conclusion, SportsBoom predicts that Ronnie O’Sullivan will progress on with a convincing 4-1 victory. O’Sullivan’s form is looking as good as it has been for a couple of years now; therefore, all the advantages swing in his way. Sanderson Lam is lacking that bit of match sharpness, despite displaying some form that suggests he’s playing the best he’s ever played on the tour.
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Henry Cheal is a versatile freelance sports journalist with extensive experience in the industry. Henry writes about football, darts, snooker, the NBA, the NFL and motorsport for multiple websites. He has previously worked at the 2024 World Snooker Championship after earning a degree in Multimedia Sports Journalism from UCFB in 2023.